Sylvania



June 2, 1931. BNE 1,807,618

LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5. 1930 Z -larier? 1 Bone nomtoz Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE HERBERT L. BONE, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION" SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA LOCKING MECHANISM Application filed August 5, 1930. Serial No. 473,269.

improper throwing of switches leading to tracks on which cars are being inspected. In this connection, I have deviced means readily settable into position for locking the control unit for any switch which should not be operated. In addition, I provide means prevent ing unauthorized withdrawal of the locking means, whereby misoperation of switches, whether intentional or otherwise, is effectively precluded. While the invention has been developed in conjunction with the control of switches in classification or retarder yards, it will be apparent that the invention is useful wherever it is desired to prevent improper operation of a railway trafiic governing device. I shall describe herein an embodiment of the invention and shall point out the novel features thereof in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of a switch control unit embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a perspective View of a detail.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the handle of a switch control unit, said handle being secured by a screw 3 to a rotatable shaft 4. The elements operated by the shaft 4 for controlling the switch are well known in the art and need not be here described; it being sufficient for the purposes of the present invention to note that the position of the switch is controlled by turning of said shaft.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the sleeve 5 (which forms part of the mechanism customarily associated with shaft 4 and is fastened thereto) with an extension 6 having apertures 7 8. In the control board 9 to which the switch control unit is attached, I provide a key-hole 10 for the reception of a locking pin 11 which, when inserted into said key-hole, is adapted to enter either opening '7 or 8, depending upon which of said openings is in alignment with said hole. One of said openings is aligned with the hole 10 when the switch control handle 2 is in normal position, and the other is aligned with said hole when said handle is in reverse position. The pin 11 is provided with a lug 12 which passes through a slot 10 of the key hole when. said pin is inserted into locking position. A bracket 13, which is secured to panel 9, and forms a bearing for the shaft 4,

has an opening 14 therethrough for the pin 11, and is also provided with an enlarged recess 15 whereby the pin, after the lug 12 has been passed through slot 10, may be turned tlirough180 degrees to bringsaid. lug into. the

position shown in Fig. 1. To permit withdrawal of the pin from engagement with open1ng7 or 8, said pin must be turned back through 180 to bring. lug 12 into registration with slot 10'. A collar 16 on the pin 11 abuts the face of the controlboard when the pin is fully inserted into locking position. It will. thus be apparent that through the engagement of pin 11 withopening 7 or 8 the switch control shaft 4 and handle 2 may be effectively locked in either normal or reverse position. Said pin may be readily inserted into any control unit. corresponding to a switch which should not be operated and may be withdrawn when operationof the switch is to be permitted. In car retarder or classification yards, such pins may be inserted into those units'which control switches leading to tracks upon which cars are being inspected, so that operation of such switches is prevented. In addition to preventing operation of the control unit, the pin 11 is plainly visible and furnishes an indication to the retarder operator that the unit is locked and that the switch corresponding thereto should not be used. Once the pin 11 is inserted for locking the control unit the latter cannot be operated inadverently or unintentionally,

since withdrawal of the pin is required be- A padlock 17 is engaged with the pin 11 between collars 16 and 18 thereon. The hasp 17 of said padlock engages the portion 11 of said pin between said collars while the upper side edges of the body portion of the padlock cooperate with shoulders 19, 20 in recesses 19, 20, in the collars 16, 18, respectively, so that when said padlock is locked to said pin, the latter cannot be rotated with respect to said padlock. While the pin and padlock can be rotated together, the padlock engages the body portion 2 of the handle 2 before the pin can be turned to its removal position and prevents further turning thereof. Thus,

as long as the padlock 17 is locked in position on said pin the latter cannot be removed and the switch control unit is locked. The padlock may be applied by a car inspector in a classification yard or by any other person who wishes to insure protection for himself while working upon a track into which. a train should not be run. Unauthorized: withdrawal of the pin 11 and operation of the switch control unit are thus precluded.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described. or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

In apparatus for the control of railway trafiic governing devices, a control unit comprising a manipulative control member, a pin insertible into said, unit for preventing operation of saidmember, means requiring rotation of said pin to a. given position. before the latter can be withdrawn. from said unit, an element engaged with said pin, means preventing rotation of said pin with respect to said element, and means cooperating with said element for blocking rotation-of said pin with said elementbefore said pin reaches the position permitting withdrawal.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this first day of August, 1930.

HERBERT. L. BONEL 

